Improvement in packing caustic alkalies



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WILLIAM HENRY BALMAIN, or ST. HELnNs, GREAT BRITAIN, AssIeNon TO THE GREENBA K ALKALI OOMPAN'Y, AND sAID COMPANY ASSIGN'OR TO enonon T. LEVI/18,01? PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

Letters Patent No. 110,189, dated December 20, 1870.

IMPROVEMENT IN PACKINGCAUSTIQ ALKALIES.

The Schedule referred to in these Letters Patent and making part of the same.

To all whom it may concern be simply and cheaply constructed without regard to the exclusion of air therefrom, and so that the contents may be in the best condition for ready use and action for soap-making and other purposes. V Secondly, my invention consists of a new article of manufacture, composed of a package of granulated or pulverized caustic alkali, protected from deterioration partly by a covering which holds the mass together, and partly by the absorbing action and by the carbonizing of the exterior 'of the said mass, as explained hereafter.

I will now proceed to describe the mode of carrying my invention into efi'ect. v Here'tofore, it has been the practice to pack caustic alkali, for family use or for transportation, in comparatively large lumps or in solid mass, into air-tight cases, or rather into cases supposed to be air-tight, for they are frequently in a leaky condition at the joints, owing to inferior'workmanship, or become leaky, owing to the destructive action of the alkali.

I have discovered that secure packages of caustic alkali can be made without the case or wrapper being air-tight, b granulatiug or pulverizing the.alkali and packing. it, while in this condition, in cases made of metal, or other material capable of withstanding the action of. the c0ntents,-and sufficiently tight to prevent the escape of the powder without excluding the air.

i In practically carrying out my invention, I take any caustic alkali {the stronger the better) in a dry condition, and pass it through a'suitable crushing or grinding-mill, by which it is reduced to a powder, and, while yet in a dry state, this powder is packed in suitable vessels.

When the alkali is in large lumps the moisture condenses on the exterior surface, dissolves a portion of the mass, and runs from the same, forming a most corrosive liquid, which attacks and destroys the vesselv containing the material.

When, however, the alkali is iu-a powdered state, as before described, it absorbs the moisture until a carbonate forms on the exterior surface of each par.- ticle, constituting a protective coating, which efieotually resists the further action of the atmosphere, so that the material retains its granular condition.

It will, therefore, be seen that, .by thus putting up the alkali in .a'powdered state, there is no necessity for resorting to air-tight cases, the simpler and cheap-. or nou-air-tight' cases, for retaining the powder in mass, being amply suificient to form a safe package.

Another important advantage of my invention is that'of facilitating the use of the caustic alkali for soap-making and other purposes, its powdered condition rendering it more applicable for ready use and action than when it is in a solid mass or in large lumps.

If desired, the interior of the mass may be in comparatively large lumps, which, however, should be ef-, fectually iuclosed and packed within the powdered alkali.

I am aware that alkali has been pulverized for the purpose of mixing it with other pulverized substances, and that lumps of alkali have been imbedded in absorbentmaterial, but I am not aware that caustic alkali has ever been so prepared that, without the admixture of other material, it can be packed in cases not air-tight, and be stored or transported without injury-a. result attained by my invention.

I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. The process of putting up caustic alkali, by packi'ngthe same in a granulated or pulverized state, and without admixture'with other materials, in cases or packages, as set forth, for the purpose specified.

2.'O'ase's or packages of granulated or pulverized caustic alkali, prepared-as described.

. In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of twosubscribing lwitnesscs.

WILLIAM HENRY BALMAIN. Witnesses I. Srmns B KER,

Notary Public, Liverpool. E. H. BJWALLS,

Liverpool, Gentleman. 

